DRAKE'S "OVO FESTIVAL" BOASTS SURRPISE GUESTS ON CARIBANA WEEKEND

Drake at the 2011 JUNO Awards

Drake's OVO Festival at Molson Amphitheatre has secured its place as one of the biggest highlights of Caribana, now known as the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival in Toronto.  Now in its second year, some are anticipating some big names to show-up tonight to the Show. Last year, the Audience were wowed by surprise performances from Jay-Z, Eminem and Beyoncé.

Expected to perform this year are acts like The Weekend, Rick Ross, NAS and Travis Porter but leave it to Drizzy himself to throw in a few surprises.  For one, Stevie Wonder was spotted flying in from Los Angeles yesterday and was seen by several Diners at Fusion hotspot Spice Route, known for its enticing Appetizers and $20 Chow Mein. I "wonder" though if he knew that he could get perhaps better and cheaper Chinese food over in Chinatown? Could the R&B/Soul legend himself be making an appearance at the OVO Festival?  We'll soon know!

Although some members of the Young Money Entertainment family, including Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne are due here in August, there also are rumours that they too might be lending their support.  Minaj surprised at Jay-Z show on Friday night, but it should be noted she is opening for Britney Spears tonight at Verizon Center in Washington, DC and likely won't be able to make it back to Toronto in-time tonight.  She will definitely be here on August 13th and 14th though.

BEYONCÉ RUNS THE SHOW AT 2011 BILLBOARD AWARDS

Beyoncé at 2011 Billboard Music Awards

Absolutely stealing the show tonight at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards was Beyoncé, performing her new Single Run the World (Girls).  Tonight's show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas marked the big return for the Awards Show after a five-year hiatus.  Performing alongside Video Projections of herself for most of the performance, things reached a high point when hundreds of Female Dancers were unveiled on stage, marking what could be called a Brevolution.

Shortly afterward, her Mother Tina Knowles presented Beyoncé with a Millennium Award as former Bandmates Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and Husband Jay-Z applauded proudly in the Audience.  She even took the time surpsingly to thank former Destiny's Childresses LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson.

Despite not nabbing any Awards, Britney Spears was another highlight this evening, performing S&M alongside Rihanna earlier in the broadcast and also a Remix of her current Single Til the World Ends with Nicki Minaj.

2011 MMVAs NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Down with Webster at Bell Celebrity Gala - November 2010

Nominees for the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards have been announced and tying for the most number of nominations this year are Canadians Fefe Dobson, Down with Webster and Shawn Desman.

With the festivities looming quickly on Sunday, June 19, 2011, several big names also are up for International Awards in categories such as International Video of the Year (Artist), International Video of the Year (Group) and UR Fave International Artist. Eminem, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez & The Scene and Bruno Mars each are tied with two nominations apiece in these categories.

For a full list of Nominees, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

INTERVIEW: MINDLESS BEHAVIOR (PICS & VIDEO)

Mindless Behavior - Toronto, March 2011

It's been over two years in the making, but Pop Music will soon be embracing the debut of a new Teen phenomenon, Mindless Behavior. The Boy Band, three parts Los Angelenos and one part Philadelphian, have won the praise of industry Icons like Diddy and Janet Jackson, the latter who has handpicked them to join her on twelve key dates for her NUMBER ONES: Up Close and Personal Tour. Just having landed in Toronto after their first stop-off in Chicago earlier this week, I caught up backstage with the Boys of Mindless Behavior - their first ever Canadian interview - at a venue Midtown, a private Showcase organized by Faze Magazine.

Prodigy

Starting off our session with a quick Photoshoot, I was amazed firstly by the level of seasoning these Boys showed, comfortably throwing poses at the Camera - each defining who they were on a personal level. Prodigy, decidedly the lead Vocalist of the group, is confident and understated, giving me full-on Diddy. Princeton is colourful and outgoing, his hair actually reminiscent of a young Prince. Roc Royal is grounded and approachable. Ray Ray although the quietest and perhaps most endearing, is by no means shy on-stage.

The Boys explain to me the process of how they came to be Mindless Behavior with Princeton telling me, "Roc Royal and I were chosen out of 600 kids by Walter Millsap (Beyoncé) and Vincent Herbert (Lady Gaga) first, then came Prodigy from Philadelphia who was discovered on YouTube by our Choreographer. Ray Ray joined our group last.". Life hasn't been all Escalades and Red Carpets though since being signed to Interscope Records by Jimmy Iovine. He adds that "for two years we have been going to classes for Vocal Lessons, Media Training and Choreography. We're all being Homeschooled now.".

VANILLA ICE IN TORONTO TO PROMOTE "THE VANILLA ICE PROJECT"

Vanilla Ice & Mr. Will-W.

Before there was Eminem, there was Vanilla Ice. In 1990, the then 23 year-old Rapper released his debut album To The Extreme, which became the fastest-selling Rap Album of the Soundscan era.  It went on to sell eleven million copies, reaching the summit of the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Chart. His mega-hit Ice Ice Baby was the first-ever Hip Hop Track to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart also. Before we knew it, Vanilla Ice soon became a household name, further catapulted by his relationship with Madonna. But what happened?

After a battle with Drugs, Depression and oppressive Management which culminated in a much-publicized Suicide attempt in 1994, Vanilla Ice is now making Music on his own terms and taking full control of his Career. Many don't realize that the Rapper also is an expert in Home Renovation and just last October his Reality Television series The Vanilla Ice Project, premiered on the DIY Network in the U.S.  The Series follows Vanilla Ice and his Crew as they take a 7,000 sq. ft. Florida property and revamp it completely. 

Receiving positive reviews and ratings, a second season of the Series has been ordered by DIY Network.  Its reception has been so positive that we too in Canada will be seeing it soon as it premieres February 13, 2011 at 8 PM EST on DIY Network Canada.  Who would've known?

KE$HA AND LADY GAGA TOP BILLBOARD 2010 YEAR-END CHARTS

Ke$ha in Toronto -
January 2010

Billboard Magazine has released their 2010 Year-End Charts and who came out on-top, you ask? Well, you might actually be a bit surprised to know that Nashville native Ke$ha actually came on-top on the Year-End Hot 100 Songs Chart with smash hit TiK-ToK.  The distiction is determined  by Airplay and Audience Impressions tracked by Nielsen BDS.  Ke$ha's strong performance on the Hot 100 Chart effectively helped make the outspoken singer Billboard's Top New Artist of 2010 also, beating out Canada's Justin Bieber who placed second. 

British Chanteuse Susan Boyle, despite not having much of a radio presence, managed to come out on-top on the Year-End Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart with her debut album I Dreamed a Dream, released late 2009.



Lady Gaga in Toronto - July 2010

Lady Gaga, who is currently prepping the premiere of her new single Born This Way on New Year's Eve from her upcoming third Disc of the same name, was given top honour of Billboard's Top Artist of 2010 based on overall Nielsen Soundscan and Hot 100 Chart performance tallies.  Gaga beat out the likes of Taylor Swift and Eminem, who placed second and third respectively.  Based on her three number one hits in 2010, I would've pegged Katy Perry on-top but in actuality, she landed in eleventh.  Does that seem right to you?

For a complete list of Billboard's 2010 Year-End Charts, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

EMINEM, KATY PERRY, BRUNO MARS AND LADY GAGA AMONG NOMINEES FOR 53RD GRAMMYS

Bruno Mars at Kool Haus,
November 2010

A big congratulations goes out to my Boy Bruno Mars who exceeded all expectations with a total seven Grammy nominations, as announced last night at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.  Although he was ommited from the category of Best New Artist seeing that his album Doo-Wops & Hooligans was released just after the September 30, 2010 qualifying deadline, he more than made-up ground.  Mars scored nominations for Record of the Year for his collaboration with B.o.B. Nothin' on You, his Writing on Cee Lo's Forget You and his own singing on Best Male Pop Vocal for Just the Way You Are.  He also performed a quiet Acoustic version of that number one smash hit early on in last night's televised Concert.

Eminem was King of the Night with a total eleven nominations, including nods in the Grammys' most coveted categories: Record, Album and Song of the Year for both his album Recovery and mega-hit Love the Way You Lie (ft. Rihanna).  Rihanna also scored a nomination for Best Dance Recording with chart-topper Only Girl (in the World).

Other notable nominees include Country Act Lady Antebellum, which gained a lot of recognition with their Ballad Need You Now.  The group garnered six nominations also for Record, Album and Song of the Year alongside Rapper Jay-Z, who also had the distinction of six nods including Record of the Year for Empire State of Mind (ft. Alicia Keys).  Lady Gaga too received six nominations including Album of the Year with The Fame Monster, although what  arguably could be considered its biggest track Bad Romance, failed to receive nominations for Record and Song of the Year. 

Katy Perry who performed too at the Grammy Nominations Concert raised a few eyebrows when it was learned that her hits California Gurls and Teenage Dream, both among 2010's biggest hits, were overlooked for Record and Song of the Year.  Her album Teenage Dream however, earned a nomination for Album of the Year despite mixed reviews.  She is a strong contender for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for that album's title track.

RIHANNA - LOUD REVIEW

Already on her fifth album, Rihanna's latest effort LOUD is a welcomed return to form after venturing to the dark side on 2009's Rated R. Understandably, she had her own personal matters to cope with at the time.  Rihanna though, always has been synonymous with fun Pop Music and inasmuch as I support trying new things, at the same time there is an unsaid expectation from the Public that an artist shouldn't veer too far out of character.

Much of the reason why this new album works so well is the electric chemistry Rihanna has with American-based Swedish producers Stargate, who have helped her achieve a sound which worked best for her on 2008's Good Girl Gone Bad. That album spawned smash hits Don't Stop the Music and Take a Bow. Since then, they have reached number one together on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart with both singles Rude Boy and Only Girl (in the World).

Some of the stronger tracks on LOUD are also collaborations with Stargate including second single What's My Name? (ft. Drake), Complicated and also Fading, all somewhat of a sonic continuation of where she left off with Rude Boy - euphoric, melodic and heavy on the synth and percussion. What makes these tracks distinctly hers is the catchy Island-influenced refrains she crafts, whether it be "ella ella ella", "eh eh eh", "away away away" or just simply "na na", Rihanna sure understands the meaning of infectious. Racy potential third single S&M is exactly as naughty as its title suggests, with the Bajan export proving that she is now fully a Woman, declaring "Sex in the air/ I don't care 'cause I like the smell of it".

Taking cues from BFF Katy Perry, Rihanna goes Pop Rock on the superb California King Bed, which although is no match to Perry's Teenage Dream, it is equally feel-good in its bittersweet melancholy - a reflection on passionate love. The track is a true testament to her coming into her own as a Vocalist, as she has made leaps and bounds in terms of strength over the past couple years. She also shares in Perry's love of the Bottle  on Avril Lavigne-sampling Cheers (Drink to That) - a reminder that the Party Girl has returned.

EMINEM AND LADY ANTEBELLUM TOP NOMINEES AT UPCOMING AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS



Eminem

Admit it - even you had your doubts about him.  Eminem brought in a total five nominations, tieing with Country act Lady Antebellum for most nominations in the forthcoming American Music Awards.  The Awards will be presented Sunday, November 21, 2010 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles and airing on ABC at 8:00 PM EST.

Other top nominees include Canada's own Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, B.o.B., Katy Perry and of course, Lady Gaga.  For a full list of nominees, visit the show's official site here.  Americans also can vote for their favourite artists on the site.

VIDEO PREMIERE: EMINEM FT. RIHANNA - LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE

Better late than never! It seems to be a new phenomenon that songs are hitting number one before their videos are released in this age of Digital Downloads. The official Music Video for one of this summer's biggest hits, Eminem's Love the Way You Lie ft. Rihanna, has finally surfaced and in his typical flare, he delivers the Drama. And somewhere in-between Rihanna's hectic touring schedule, she managed to fit in a Video Shoot, sporting that gorgeous Red Hair I saw earlier last week when I got to meet her! And no, you're not mistaken, that is the positively sexy Megan Fox starring in the video.

MTV VMAs NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED: GAGA ON TOP

The nominees for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards have been announced and as expected, Lady Gaga comes out on top with 13 nominations including the most coveted award, Video of the Year. That is the highest number of nominations received by a single artist for the VMAs.  Ever.  Gaga is also the first ever female artist to have two contenders for Video of the Year in Bad Romance and Telephone ft. Beyoncé.

Rapper Eminem who just caused a frenzy in Toronto Sunday night with a surprise appearance at Drake's OVO Festival, is up for eight awards, making him the evening's second most nominated artist.

By far, the evening's most interesting and competitive category is that of Best Female Video.  This category pits against each other: Katy Perry's California Gurls ft.Snoop Dogg, up against Ke$ha's Tik Tok, Gaga & Beyoncé's Video Phone, Taylor Swift's Fifteen and Gaga's Bad Romance.  Toughie.

The VMAs air Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 9 PM EST.  Click here for a more comprehensive list of nominees.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

EMINEM AND JAY-Z SURPRISE AT DRAKE'S OVO FESTIVAL IN TORONTO

Molson Amphitheatre was where the action was at last night in Toronto on festive Caribana Weekend, where 23 year-old Canadian Hip-Hop darling Drake held his first-ever OVO (October's Very Own) Festival. The festival, which he hopes to hold annually, was named to commemorate his own birthday and those birthdays of his close friends born that month.

But get this - it wasn't just all about Drake last night. Coming out of nowhere were the same rapper-mogul who has guided his career, Jay-Z and eleven-time Grammy winning rapper Eminem joining Drake on stage during his set. Eminem rapped a verse on Drake's track Forever, before Jay-Z proceeded into his number one hit Run This Town. It is said that Beyoncé was also present, although she was mostly Backstage supporting her mogul husband.  She of course is no slouch herself, only recently being listed as number two on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list. Other rappers to make appearances during the set included Fabolous, Young Jeezy, Bun B, Kardinal Offishall and Rick Ross. I'm no Hip-Hop fan, but even I recognize that's a huge deal and exceptional value for the price of admission. Historic.

Watch a fan-uploaded YouTube clip below of the landmark moment:

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE'S BEST OF THE 2000s

Billboard Magazine just released its Best of the 2000s charts today based on the past ten years of chart statistics and there were some surprises among the bunch.

Mariah Carey owns the title to the Number One Song of the Decade with We Belong Together, which charted fourteen non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Hot 100 Chart in 2005. The latter part of the decade however, hasn't been as successful for Carey with her latest album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel only garnering one lukewarm hit with Obsessed. The single peaked at number seven this year on the Hot 100 Chart.

Coincidentally, Obsessed was intended as a strike by Carey against Billboard Magazine's selected Artist of the Decade, Eminem. Beyoncé had the notable distinction of being shortlisted twice in that same category also as both a solo artist (ranking fourth) and in her stint with Destiny's Child (ranking ninth).

Although now defunct, boy band 'N Sync topped was named Best Selling Album of the 2000s, selling over 10 million copies of their 2000 sophomore album No Strings Attached. Sadly, with album sales on the decline, artists posting these type of numbers has become a thing of the past.

The Rolling Stones just edged out U2 as the Top Touring Act of the 2000s, earning $869,471,325, while the latter took in $844,157,925. Madonna, whom you would think would have topped the list, came in third with $801,299,671.

It was announced also that 2009's Top Selling Album was Taylor Swift's Fearless, just re-released in a Platinum Edition format this October. Swift was also named Artist of the Year too. The final sales tally has yet to be announced, although it looks as though Susan Boyle is edging up with her debut I Dreamed a Dream which continues to sell at an alarming pace.

The year's number one song is Black Eyed Peas' Boom Boom Pow, followed impressively by a Lady Gaga double of Poker Face and Just Dance respectively in second and third. Unfortunately there will be no awards ceremony for The Billboard Awards, after having ceased in 2007 due to a behind-the scenes fallout.